Convicted terrorist standing in Birmingham election 'to unite Sparkhill' – Birmingham Live Skip to main content Shahid Butt, talking about his 'colourful life' including his conviction over a terror plot in Yemen. A Birmingham Muslim activist who was jailed for his part in an armed terror plot is seeking election to represent Sparkhill on the city council. Shahid Butt, 60, says he believes he is the 'ideal candidate' to unite a divided community and city, push back against the far right and defeat Labour in one of its traditional strongholds. His candidacy has come under immediate fire online amid claims he advocates violence, pushes a strongly Islamist agenda and has a significant history of criminality that should bar him from sitting on the council. READ MORE: Veteran Birmingham city councillor quits Labour Party after selection anger He has openly encouraged the city's Muslim youth to 'work out at the gym and learn to fight' in readiness for potential attacks, and urged Muslims to stand together and hold their ground against people of other faiths, who he describes as 'disbelievers'.
Published: January 27, 2026 5:05 pm
Source: birminghammail.co.uk — Read original